Ayala’s AC Health, USAID tackle HIV epidemic with expanded testing, care solutions

December 3, 2024
8:32PM PHT

Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to combat the HIV epidemic in the Philippines.

Together, they aim to improve access to stigma-free care and expand lifesaving services.

AC Health will use its network to provide HIV awareness and screening through KonsultaMD, import essential medicines via IE Medica and MedEthix, making them available at Generika Drugstore.

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, attacks the immune system, weakening the body’s ability to fight infections and diseases. Without treatment, it can progress to AIDS, but modern therapies allow individuals to manage the virus and live healthy lives.

Expanding HIV prevention, testing

“Our mission at AC Health is to make quality and affordable healthcare accessible to more Filipinos. Through our partnership with USAID, our dedicated teams at Healthway Medical Network, KonsultaMD, and Generika Drugstore have been equipped with specialized training to serve key populations affected by HIV,” AC Health chair Fernando Zobel de Ayala said in a statement. 

“This collaboration brings us closer to bridging gaps in HIV prevention and testing, ensuring these critical services reach more communities nationwide,” he added.

From left: Andrea Halverson, USAID Health Office Director; MaryKay Carlson, US Ambassador to the Philippines; Fernando Zobel de Ayala, AC Health Chairman; Tracy Hawry, Deputy Director of the Office of Health, USAID Philippines and Mongolia; Ryan Washburn, USAID Mission Director; Paolo Borromeo, AC Health President & CEO./Photo from AC ​Health 

Boosting healthcare training, telehealth

USAID will complement these efforts by engaging communities, training healthcare providers, and offering free HIV self-testing kits. 

The partnership also focuses on expanding telehealth access and introducing private sector models to improve HIV care delivery. Announced ahead of World AIDS Day, it emphasizes the importance of collective action.

Addressing an epidemic

The partnership aims to combat one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing HIV epidemics, showcasing AC Health’s commitment to addressing public health challenges in the Philippines. 

Beyond HIV, AC Health is also leading its “Working with Cancer Pledge” alongside Publicis Groupe Philippines and the People Management Association of the Philippines, promoting inclusive workplaces for employees battling cancer.  

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